PMA-ILWU schedule two breaks in talks

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) said Friday that after several days of ongoing talks, both sides will take a break from negotiations on Monday and Tuesday in order for the ILWU to convene a previously scheduled Longshore Division Caucus in San Francisco.Negotiations are scheduled to resume Wednesday.
The parties also said that a second break has also been scheduled for later in the month.
“No talks will take place July 28 to Aug. 1 so the ILWU can resume unrelated contract negotiations in the Pacific Northwest,” they said. This follows a similar three-day suspension earlier this month, held so that the union leadership could negotiate in the Pacific Northwest with the operators of grain elevators in Washington and Oregon.
The previous labor contract between the PMA and ILWU, which covers nearly 20,000 longshore workers at 29 West Coast ports, expired July 1.
While there is no contract extension in place, both parties have pledged to keep cargo moving.